Packaging machine



June 13, 1944. v. G. WILLIAMS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l 3'11 verfi'or U. (3.1mm 37116 744 W v. II I June 13, 1944. v. s. WILLIAMS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13, 1944. v. e. WILLIAMS PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 11, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1944- v. G. WILLIAMS PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 11

Patented June 13, 1944 2,351,302 PACKAGING MACHINE Victor G. Williams, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application January 11, 1940, Serial No. 313,807 In Canada Januar 17, 1939 4 Claims. (01. 220-50) This invention relates to packaging machines and more particularly to that type of machine disclosed in my prior United States Patent No.

2,071,244, issued February 16, 1937, in which tea is packaged in fabric bags having tags applied thereto and the object of this invention is to devise an improved machine of this character which is more efiicient and smoother in operation.

I attain my object by providing a nozzle carrier above a portion of the carrier for conveying the grippers which carry the containers or bags to be filled. The grippers are adapted to be swung vertically and are also adapted to be rotated horizontally. The filling material, which may be tea, is carried in a hopper concentric to the gripper carrier at one end of the machine. The hopper is provided with measuring chambers which communicate one by one with a spout. The nozzles are vertically movable on their carrier so that each will be lowered into an open substantially vertical gripper. Bag making fabric is drawn from a roll thereof through the open grippers and shaped in the form of a V to receive the descending nozzles which serve as bag formers. The grippers are closed, one by one, on the bag material and around their nozzles. The latter then pass beneath the spout to receive tea from the hopper and subsequently are withdrawn from the grippers. The fabric strip is cut transversely by a cloth knife, between adjacent closed grippers to form bag sections, each of which is thus carried by a gripper. The knife is so positioned that the lead end of the fabric strip is continuously being drawn by one or more of the closed grippers through one or more of the open grippers. The cloth knife is moved longitudinally with the fabric strip during the cutting thereof and is lowered out of the path of the grippers and nozzles during its return stroke. While the nozzles are being raised out of the bag sections any tea in the nozzles falls by gravity into the bag sections which are then carried by the grippers past a sewing or surging machine for trimming and sewing the ends or mouths of the bag sections. The thread is cut and the grippers are lowered one by one, to a substantially horizontal position. One side of each bag section is positioned for being sewn and trimmed by either one of two spaced apart surging machines adapted to form suitable stitching for attaching tags to the bag sections. To space the tags from their bags, alternate grippers are swung to a position in which the bag sections carried thereby will not be engaged by the first of the said two surging machines.

the stitching at a maximum distance from their bags and the stitching is out between the tags and the adjacent bag section. The grippers carrying the tagged bag sections are then swung upwardly to a position in which the tagged bags will not be engaged by the second of the said two surging machines, and the grippers which were originally moved out of position for engagement by the first of the two surging machines are now lowered to position the untagged bag sections carried thereby for engagement by the second of the two surging machines whereby tags are applied to the un tagged bag sections. The stitching is out between each tag and its adjacent bag section. The grippers carrying the first tagged bags are then lowered into alinement with the grippers carrying the second tagged bags and all the grippers are turned, one by one, 180 to bring the other, unsewn, side of each bag section into position for being trimmed and sewn by another sewing machine. The three machines for sewing the mouths of the bags and for sewing one-side and attaching the tags thereto are arranged along one side of the packaging apparatus and are driven by a sectional shaft so that each sewing machine may be readily removed from the apparatus independently of the other sewing machines. The fourth sewing machine is positioned on the opposite side of the apparatus. After the bags leave the fourth sewing machine the thread is cut, the grippers are released and turned 90, the bags are engaged by a rotary clamping device, and the grippers are opened to permit the clamping device to remove the bags from their grippers and drop them on to a conveyor. All the grippers are then swung upwardly to a/substantially vertical position to receive fresh bag making fabric.

The constructions are hereinafter more fully described and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which The tags are fed to and sewn into Fig. '1 is a plan view of my machine;

Fig. 2 a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 a detail in side elevation of the hopper end of the machine;

Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the hopper;

Fig. 5 a cross sectional detail of the machine showing a side elevation of the cloth knife in position to cut the bag making material;

Fig. 6 a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, the bridge being omitted;

Fig. 7 an enlarged longitudinal section showing the jaw opening device:

Fig. 8 a detail of the mechanism for releasing the gripper frame locking mechanism and for turning the gripper frame;

Fig. 9 a detail partly in section and partly in elevation of the gripper;

Fig. a detail in side feed;

Fig. 11 a plan view of a finished bag.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

l is the frame which is suitably shaped to support the various parts of the machine and is provided with' legs I. An endless carrier 2 preferably formed as a chain is supported intermediate its ends on a flange l" of a bridge 3 which is carried above the frame I by suitable supports. The chain carrier 2 meshes with sprocket wheels 3, 3' journalled at opposite ends of the bridge 3, the wheel 3 being secured to a shaft 3 for driving the carrier. On the carrier 2 are pivotally mounted a plurality of grippers 4 so that they may be swung in a vertical plane and rotated in a horizontal plane (see Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9). This is accomplished by providing certain of the chain links with laterally extending blocks on which gripper carrying arms 4" are pivoted at 4 to swing in a vertical plane. These arms are provided with upwardly extending fingers 4 adapted to be engaged by rails 6 carried around the periphery of the bridge to determine the position in a vertical plane of the grippers as desired.

Gripper Each gripper 4 includes a frame 4 (Figs. '7, 8 and 9) which is journalled at 4 to rotate on its carrying arm 4' at right angles to the pivot 4 thereof. The frame is provided with a plurality (preferably four) of radially directed projections 4 which are equidistantly spaced apart for engagement one by one with stationary pins I carried by brackets I mounted around the periphery of the bridge 3 so that as the gripper passes each of the brackets I it will be rotated a quarter turn on its pivot 4' .(in a clockwise direction of rotation in Figs. 1 and 8) for a purpose hereinafter described.

To prevent the grippers from moving more than the desired quarter turn as they are engaged by each pin I and to lock the grippers positively to their carrying arms 4' at the end of each turning movement, I provide each arm 4' with 8. depending projection 4 adapted to be received in any one of four recesses 4 in the frame 4 The frame is drilled adjacent its periphery and the latter is cut into the drilled holes to elevation of the cloth form the hereinbefore described radial projections 4 The said drilled holes thus form the recesses 49 which are adapted to receive and engage the depending projection 4 seriatim. To release the projection 4 from any of the recesses, the frame 4 is axially moved relative to the arm 4'. The frame may now be turned on its vertical pivot 4 to bring it into position for engaging the next recess with the projection. This axial movement of the frame 4, to move the recesses 4 clear of the projection 4 is obtained by securing the journal pin 4 to the frame 4. The pin 4 is journalled and axially movable in a bushing carried by the arm 4' and extended above it to increase the bearing surface. On the bushing is disposed a compression spring 4' having one end engaging the arm 4', the other end engages a collar disposed on the pin 4' and bearing against the head of the pin. Each spring 4' thus urges the frame -4 towards its arm 4 and tends to maintain the wall of a recess 4 in enaasasaa gagement with the depending pin 4''. Each frame is axially moved, to release the locking means, by a depressor 1 having a curved underside adapted to engage a rounded end on the head of the journal pin 4. Each depressor is carried by a bracket I and is adapted to shift the frames 4, one by one, so that the locking means is released whenever one of the radial projections 4' is engaged by a pin 1 for turning the frame as the latter moves past the pin. The head of the pin 4' moves out of engagement with the depressor 1" before the turning movement of the frame is completed. Thus the spring 4' causes the frame to move into contact with the end of the depending projection 4' and thereafter snaps the frame into contact with the arm immediately the next recess 4 is moved into register with the projection 4".

Each frame 4 is provided with a passageway 4' which communicates with the space between the jaws 4 of the gripper (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9).

These jaws are adapted when closed, to form a substantially imperforate pocket having its rear end communicating with the passageway 4' and its front end provided with an opening 4 for a purpose hereinafter described. The bag making material is adapted, as hereinafter described to extend across the space between the jaws, project beyond the sides and front end thereof and be gripped between the said sides.

The opposed outer ends of each frame 4 are provided with open bearings or rounded surfaces 4 on whlchthe top and bottom walls 4 of a pair of jaws are pivoted. These walls are formed of inserts made of springy material having their free I ends rounded to fit the surfaces 4 Each set of jaws is also pivotally connected with one another by means of a pin 4 which extends transversely of the jaws across the front or outer end of the passageway 4 and engages open bearings in the sides of the jaws. As the jaws are swung on their pivots 4 to close the jaws, the pin 4 is moved rearwardly relative to the pivots and when the pin moves beyond an imaginary center line through the pivots 4 the spring walls 4" snap the jaws closed. Similarly as the jaws are opened against the pressure of the spring walls 4", the pin 4 is moved forwardly relative to the pivots 4 and when the pin is moved past the dead center of the said pivots, the jaws will remain open. These pivotal connections and spring walls 4 thus form a snap-over mechanism whereby the jaws of each set or pair may be closed by moving only one of the jaws towards its closed position and the jaws may be opened by moving the pin 4 iongitudinally of the frame (or the jaws) past the dead center of the pivots 4 Measuring and directing mechanism for the filling material The tea or other material with which the bags are filled is carried in a hopper secured to the carrier shaft 3 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4). In the bottom of the hopper are formed a plurality of holes in which are suitably secured tubular chambers ported on a nut 48 The nut is threadedon the upper end of the bearing 48 in which the shaft 3 is journalled. By turning the nut 48, the disk 81 and the ring 8 are moved axially away from or towards the bottom of the hopper 8. A look nut is provided to restrain movement of the nut 48 after it has been adjusted.

The tea in the hopper drops into the chambers 8 and 8' and the disk 8 (over which the ring 8 rotates) prevents the tea from spilling through the chambers until they reach a discharge opening 8 in the disk. This opening is closable by a slide which moves in a slot in the upper surface of the disk so that the upper surface of the slide will be flush with the upper surface of the disk. To prevent the tea within the hopper above the measuring chambers from passing through the chambers as they come into register with the d scharge opening and to ensure all the contents of the measuring chamber in register with the discharge opening being discharged therethrough, I provide a scraper 8 which is held from rotation in the hopper just above the upper surface of the bottom thereof and provide this scraper with an air vent tube 8 which extends upwardly above the upper end of the hopper to establish communication with the atmosphere and the chamber in register with the discharge opening. On the underside of the disk 8 is carried a spout 2| which communicates with the discharge opening 81 Above the gripper carrier 2, at one end thereof, is a nozzle carrier 22 comprising an endless chain meshed with a sprocket 28 secured to the shaft 3 which also drives the carrier 2 and the hopper 8. The other end of the chain nozzle carrier 22 passes round an idler sprocket 24 which is smaller in diameter than the sprocket 23 and which is so positioned on the machine that only a portion of the carrier 22 will overlie a portion of the carrier 2. The carrier 22 is supported intermediate its ends by a flange on a short bridge 25 which is suitably supported by the bridge 3. On the carrier 22 are suitably mounted a plurality of guides 23 in each of which is mounted a slide 21 carrying a nozzle 28, the latter being adapted to be received in the opening 4 of a gripper 4. Each slide is provided with a lateral extension, such as an antifriction roller 29 which runs in a cam track 30. The latter has high and low portions 3|, 32 for causing the nozzles 28 to be raised and lowered vertically out of and into position for co-operation with the gripper jaws 4*.

As the nozzles 28 move from the idler sprocket 24 to the drive sprocket 23 and towards the spout 2|, the rollers 29 move down the inclined portion of the cam track 38 from the high portion 3| to the low portion 32 whereby the nozzles 28 are lowered, one by one, into co-operative position with the grippers 4 while the jaws thereof are open. Before the grippers pass beneath the spout, the jaws are closed around the nozzles. As each gripper and nozzle passes beneath the spout they receive the contents of a chamber 8, 8. After the nozzles and grippers pass the spout, the rollers 29 move up the inclined portion of the track 38 to the high portion 3| thereof and fully withdraw the nozzles from the closed jaws of the grippers. Thereafter the nozzles move across the machine and out of the path of the grippers as they travel from the sprocket 23 to the idler sprocket 24. After the nozzles move around the idler sprocket 24, they again move into vertical alinement with fresh grippers. The nozzles are then lowered into co-operative position with the new grippers and the cycle is completed as above described.

It is desirable to maintain a predetermined level of tea in the hopper 8 otherwise-the quantities of tea in the measuring chambers 8, 8 are likely to vary. A tea spout 8' leading from a suitable source of supply has its discharge end directed into the hopper (see Figs. 4 and 1). A closure 8" for the discharge end of the spout is pivoted on any suitable part, such as the rod 8 for carrying the scraper 8 and the air vent tube 8, to swing across the underside of the mouth of the spout 8 and thus regulate the quantity of tea discharged therefrom. The central portion of the bottom of the hopper is raised by means of a conical bottom 8 which leaves an annular space for tea above the measuring chambers. The closure 8' extends across the hub and its free end carries a plate 8 adapted to be engaged by the tea in the annular space. As the tea is revolved with the hopper it tends to move the plate with it and thus moves the closure to its position for closing the mouth of the spout. The closure is spring actuated to tend to hold it at least partly open so that the higher the level of the tea in the annular space, the greater the pressure against the plate to overcome the spring.

Bag material feeding and cutting mechanism The bag making material 9* is drawn by the grippers 4 from a supply roll 9. which is journalled on a bracket 9 secured to any suitable part of the frame Any suitable means, such as an arm 9 resting on the surface of the roll 9, may be employed to serve as a brake. 1 The lead end of the bag making material 9' is passed around a stud 9 under a finger 9, then under a V shaped spreader 9 the latter being adapted to spread the bag material to receive the nozzles 28 as they descend into co-operative position with the open gripper jaws 4 and finally the lead end is gripped between the constantly advancing gripper jaws when they are closed around the nozzles. See Figures 2 and 10.

The stud 9 is carried on a link 9' pivotally mounted on the bracket 9 so that the stud may be adjusted vertically. The bracket also carries a vertically adjustable offset spindle 9 on which the finger 9 and the spreader 9 are so carried that they may be adjusted relative to one another and to the offset portion of the spindle. Thus the finger and spreader are adjustable vertically by means of the spindle and may be adjusted relative to the latter to cause the strip of bag making material to be spread in the shape of a V which facilitates the entrance of the nozzles 28 between the sides of the bag making material at the latter, the nozzles and the open grippers 4 are moving towards the filling spout 2|. To center the bag making material relative to the open gripper jaws 4 (which are also spread apart in the shape of a V), the upper ends of the sides of the V shaped spreader 9 are provided with guides 9 for engaging the edges of the B shaped strip of material.

The jaws 4 of each gripper are closed to grip the strip material around a nozzle 28 before the latter reaches the spout 2|. The jaws of each gripper may be closed by one of them being engaged by or engaging any suitable means such as a rubber-covered roller 4", journalled on an arm,

carried by the frame |,.s ee Figs. 1 and 2.

A cloth knife H (see Figs. 5 andfi) is 05011;: lated transversely of the strip of bag making material 9 between adjacent closed grippers 4 and is-actuated to cut the strip. while movin longitudinally with it, to form bag sections s. The knife comprises a fixed shear blade I I carried by a lever I l which is pivoted on an axially movable shaft I! on opposite. side of a collar secured thereto. The lever is thus axially moved with the shaft II but is free to oscillate thereon. The shaft is moved at substantially the same rate of speed as that of the grippers l.

The fixed blade II is secured to a bracket II which is adiustably carried on one end of the lever II". On the fixed blade is pivoted a movable blade II which is normally positioned in spaced relationship to the fixed blade so that the blades pass on opposite sides of the folded strip of material as the lever is rocked upwardly. A cam II' secured to a rotating shaft II engages an anti-friction roller Journalled on the other end of the lever II'-. The width of the cam is such that the lever may move longitudinally of the machine while the lever is bein rocked by the cam. I

The movable bla de II is moved relative'to cured to the movable blade and pivotally connected with a pivoted arm II A cam II secured 'to thev shaft II actuates the armi I and the pivotal connection between the latter and one end of the link permits the other end there-' of to move longitudinally of the machine with the lever II'=- so that, the cut is made while accuses of tea which hasbeen measured by the chambers 8, 8.

Thus, it will be seen that In the operation of the machine the nomes II are lowered between material and the gr pp r laws are closed upon the strip and about the nozzles prior to arrivthe fixed blade II' by a link I I adjustably sethe knife blades are moving with the bag mate means II connected with the arm II cause the link I I to be moved to open the knife blades.

The cam- II then causesthe lever II to be rocked to move the blades out of the path ,of

- thegrippers 4 whereupon the lever is moved by the shaft I2 longitudinally of the machine in the direction opposite to the travel of the grippers. A spring II rocks the lever to-move the open blades upwardly again after they have thus rials. After the bag material is cut, spring ing at the filling mechanism. By such arrangernent each bag section is in readiness to receive its charge from the feeding hopper as soon as it arrives'at a point of tangency with the hopper, thus allowing ample time for the operation of the gravity filling device todeposit its charge whereby a relatively higher speed of production may be obtained.

After receiving its charge of tea, each bag section is carried by a gripper past surging machines indicated generally at II, II, II and It", which operate to sew the open edges of the bags as presented thereto by the grippers and also to stitch a tag H to each bag section in a manner similar to that disclosed'in Patent No. 2,071,244 above referred to, and, since such mechanisms do not form a part of the present invention, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Y

The completed bag may then be discharged from its gripper by a transfer mechanism, in,- dicated generally at II, which operates to deposit successive bags upona discharge conveyor 20 to be carried away from the machine.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention. may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims. Y

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a packaging machine, in combination, an elongated endless carrier 'provided'with a plurality of equally spaced .gripper members each comprising a pair of laws, means for advancing .a V-shapedstrip of bag forming material between the open jaws of said grippers, a second to cut the material whereby each gripper carries a has section I. l

. Fillingmechanism After the bag sections are-formed and while the nozzles 28' are still positioned in the grippers 4, they pass beneaththe spout 2i and each nozzle receives tea from a set of measuring'chambers' 8, 8. As each set of said chaTmb'ersmoves into register with the discharge opening' s! and beneath the air vented scraper l, thetea drops elongated endless carrier provided with a plurality of spaced noules arranged to be advanced in alignment with said gripper members, means forlowering said nozzles between the walls of said V-shaped strip, material feeding means for depositing a charge of material into successive nozzles, and means for closing successive of said gripper Jaws upon said v-shaped strip and about by gravity'through the spout and into the noz- 'zle passing beneath the spout. The-nozzles are provided with flared upper ends to prevent any tea from spilling.

.It will be understood that during the hereinbefore described operations, thegripper laws are directed upwardly by the engagement of the fingers 4 with the rail 6 which causes the gripper carrying arms 4 to be rocked on their horizontal pivots l and retained in this position. The rail 6 extends from a point, adjacent the bag making material supply roll Pat one side of the machine, along the said side and around Y said omes prior to arriving at said material feeding means. I

- 2. In a packaging machine, in combination, an elongated endless carrier provided with a plu-.

rality of equally spaced gripper members each comprising'a pair of laws, means for advancing a V-shaped strip of bag forming material between the open-Jaws of said grippersva second elongated endless carrier shorter than slid first mentioned carrier andv provided witha plurality of spaced nozzles arranged to be advanced in alignment with the'gripper members of a portion of said first mentioned carrier, means for lowering the nozzles'between the walls of said V-shaped strip as they arrive in alignment with'said grippers, material feeding means for depositing a charge of material into successive lowered nozzles, and means for closing successive of said gripper jaws upon said V-shaped strip and about said nozzles prior to arriving at said material feeding means.

that each bag section receives the full amount 3. In a packaging machine, in combination, an

elongated endless carrier provided with a plurality of equally spaced gripper members each comprising a pair of laws, means for guiding the carrier around opposite ends of the machine, means for advancing a V-shaped strip of bag forming material between the open jaws of said grippers, a second elongated endless carrier having at least one end concentric with said gripper carrier and provided with a plurality of spaced nozzles arranged to be advanced in alignment with the gripper members of a portion of said gripper carrier, means for lowering the nozzles between the walls of said V-shaped strip, material feeding means including a rotary hopper concentric with said one end of the carriers for depositing a charge of material into successive nozzles, and means for closing successive of said gripper jaws upon said V-shaped strip and about said nozzles prior to arriving at said material feeding means.

4. In a packaging machine, in combination, an elongated endless carrier provided with a plurality of equally spaced gripper members each comprising a pair of jaws, means for advancing a V-shaped strip of bag forming material between the open jaws of said grippers, a second elongated endless carrier concentric with one end of said gripper carrier and having a straight line portion in alignment with said gripper carrier, said second carrier being provided with a plurality of spaced nozzles arranged to be advanced in alignment with said gripper members, means for lowering the nozzles between the walls of said V-shaped strip, material feeding means including a rotary hopper concentric with said one end of the carriers for depositing a charge of material into successive nozzles, and means for closing successive of said gripper jaws upon said V-shaped strip and about said nozzles while traversing through said straight line portion and prior to arriving at said material feeding means.

VICTOR G. WILLIAMS. 

